Recently, we stepped away from our usual roles to volunteer with The Bread and Butter Thing in Salford, supporting Stop Hunger. It was a truly rewarding and humbling experience to help the local community. A reminder of just how much a little time and teamwork can make a difference to the lives around us. Days like this aren’t just a one-off act of kindness to us; they’re the foundation of our community and help us to help inside and outside of the dining hall.
What is Stop Hunger?
Founded in 2005, Stop Hunger Foundation by Sodexo works across the UK and Ireland to tackle food insecurity and its underlying causes. The Bread and Butter Thing helps communities access affordable, quality food. At AiP, we couldn’t be more proud to be able to work alongside these charities to build happier, healthier communities.
At the heart of the programme are teams giving their time, skills and energy to make a difference. The foundation tackles food insecurity by addressing both immediate and wider challenges in community. That means helping people access food today while creating more opportunities for greater security tomorrow.
"The big picture: In 2025, we recorded 54,345 hours of volunteering and have supported 470 charities since 2005. Read more in our 2025 Stop Hunger Report."
Why food insecurity matters
At AiP, we know that food is about much more than what’s on the plate. For pupils, a nutritious meal can make a big difference to how they feel, how well they concentrate and how ready they are to learn and grow.
That’s why it matters to us when families in the communities we serve struggle to access food. We see firsthand how important school meals can be for pupils who are in such difficult situations. Supporting pupils and their families is a natural extension of the work that we do every day in the dining halls.
Every school community is different. Through our strong partnerships with schools and Trusts, we can better understand and support the needs of the families we serve with programmes like this that go far beyond ‘just lunch’.
What this looks like in schools
The connection between community support and education is particularly important. Through Stop Hunger, colleagues from across the business help pupils access opportunities, build confidence and get the most out of their school life.
When we help pupils thrive in their health, their communities and in the classroom, we aren’t just serving a meal or volunteering to help with food insecurity. We are building the foundations from which pupils can thrive at school and at home.
Our commitment goes beyond the dining hall
We believe every meal is a big deal, and so is every day spent giving back. Supporting our communities is about recognising what people need, working together and taking practical steps to make a difference.
We are excited to continue our work alongside schools and Trusts to help create communities where pupils thrive.
If you’re looking for a catering partner that aligns with your community impact, get in touch today.
